Morris dancing is so good, it’s got bells on!

IN full swing . . . the Saddleworth Morris Men get into line for the annual Rushcart festival, from left, Ron Yates, his son David Yates, Paul Hankinson and his dad Squire Richard Hankinson

But youngsters are needed to keep the tradition alive

LOCAL Morris Men are urging young Oldhamers to throw on some bright colours and join their team to stop the old tradition dying out.

The Morris Ring, which represents 200 troupes, has warned that Morris dancing could die out completely over the next two decades if teams can’t attract young recruits to keep the tradition alive.

But while the Saddleworth Morris Men are going strong the group has no teenagers or children in its ranks.

Squire (leader) of the Saddleworth Morris Men, Richard Hankinson, said: “We’re a good team.

“We have 25 members and perform on average every three weeks during the spring and summer, but our youngest member is 27 and you need even younger members so that you can maintain it and keep it going in the future.

“We used to have a separate team made up entirely of younger people, but we found that once the boys reached about 14 they started pulling out. We didn’t have anyone to replace them, so it folded.

“There’s a definite perception among younger people that Morris dancing isn’t cool, but we’ve always been in demand around the world and the opportunities to travel are great.

“We once had an all-expenses-paid trip to Brazil where we were performing as part of an English culture festival. When I started Morris dancing I never dreamed I’d end up going there.”

The Saddleworth Morris Men started life in 1974, but the origins of the tradition are believed to stretch back to the 16th century. Richard, who has been in the team for 28 years, said: “We still practise each week and perform around the country.

“Our audiences have been as varied as one man and his dog in the pub to crowds of people in Trafalgar Square and I really enjoy the element of performance.

“It’s a shame that the tradition is ridiculed in this country because people in mainland Europe really enjoy it. You can walk around a Dutch city in full costume on a Saturday night and won’t get any trouble.”

The men who regularly don their flowery hats and bells for such worldwide festivals range from solicitors to teachers and scout leaders, so Richard says they have enough members who are fully legally accredited to work with any children who have their eye on an unusual hobby with some foreign travel thrown in.

Richard added: “You have to have broad shoulders if you want to get involved and you’re a young person, because some people might take the mickey, but there are not many children who can say they have had an all expenses paid trip to Brazil!”

Anyone who would like to join can e-mail Richard at: rghankinson@hotmail.com or phone him on: 01457 834871.